A renewed bid to help the homeless in West 乌鸦传媒 received more support this week from city councillors than did a similar attempt last year.听
Councillors generally spoke in favour of a new initiative by various non-profit groups to band together under the leadership of the United Way, much like has been done recently in Penticton.听
鈥淗omelessness is definitely an issue that West 乌鸦传媒 has been facing,鈥 said Coun. Tasha Da Silver, who said the number of homeless people has risen from about 80 last year to more than 100 currently.听
鈥淚t is such a big problem and we don鈥檛 really have any services on the Westside right now, which is unfortunate, the need is absolutely there,鈥 Da Silva said.听
鈥淧lease let us know how we can support you in any way,鈥 Coun. Jason Friesen told Naomi Woodland, housing initiatives manager for United Way 乌鸦传媒听
The nascent umbrella group, called Westside Ending Homelessness, includes the involvement of the 乌鸦传媒 Gospel Mission, the Central Okanagan Foundation, the 乌鸦传媒 branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Westbank First Nation, and service agencies such as Piers and Turning Points.听
鈥淣o single group or organization can successfully end homelessness on its own,鈥 Woodland told council. The co-operative approach is 鈥渘ot dissimilar鈥 to the efforts of 100 More Homes Penticton, which has been working to provide housing for homeless people in that city since 2016, Woodland said.听
鈥淭he group has learned a lot over time and has developed a framework that may be helpful to other communities facing similar needs,鈥 Woodland said.听
A new winter shelter and dozens of new supportive housing units have been provided in Penticton, she said, through an approach that includes business and community leaders, along with BC Housing and Interior Health.听
City council is expected to get a report at the June 24 meeting about the current number of homeless people in West 乌鸦传媒. 鈥淭hat will give us a better understanding of the challenges and hurdles we鈥檙e facing,鈥 said acting mayor Stephen Johnston.听
West 乌鸦传媒 also needs more homes for seniors and low-income housing, Johnston said, suggesting BC Housing should work to boost the stock of such housing. 鈥淲e are dramatically under-served in that fashion,鈥 he said.听
Last year, an attempt to provide a hygiene centre for daytime use by homeless people in Westbank foundered when councillors asked for extensive reports on how the facility might impact the community. Rather than provide such information, the advocates simply walked away from the proposal.听